Mama Bear

It's common sense not to get in between a mama bear and her cubs (because everyone who doesn't know that is dead). I feel like a mama bear right now. There is an enemy in the camp. And I want to maul the enemy's face off but...

Romans 12:20 "On the contrary; if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head."

Well I'd much rather just heap the coals without the good stuff but...

Luke 6:27-28 "To you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." There are probably thousands of other verses about forgiving. It's the foundation of our faith. But what if it's not your enemy?

What if it's your loved one's enemy? Where's the Bible verse for that?

It's not my hurt I'm trying to forgive. It's the hurt of my family. I can deal with pain that comes my way, but watching the pain of others and not being able to take it away is too much for this girl. And this hurt is constant, steady, and always present. I have not been able to forgive the enemy. In fact I have not even tried but I think I've succeeded in making them my enemy too. I twisted this verse to let myself openly display my displeasure with the enemy -

Proverbs 27:5 "Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

But I know that's not what the verse means. I have reached a point in my faith that I can't go any deeper without forgiving the enemy. But at the same time, I want to protect my family.

1 Corinthians 13:7 "(Love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

I can refuse to stand by anymore and let pain be inflicted on them. I can refuse to let the enemy say hurtful things. I can refuse to let hurtful actions continue. But how do I walk to fine line between human/revenge-seeking anger and righteous anger? How do I love the enemy while letting them know that their behavior is not acceptable without causing a world war? Because if you met the enemy you would be installing a bunker under your house as we speak.

Any advice my wonderful blogging friends of faith?